Gunnedah junior soccer wraps up a busy 2025

The Gunnedah and District Soccer Association (GDSA) junior season concluded with its grand final day and end-of-season presentation at Geoff Morgan Playing Fields last Saturday.

Grand final day came two days after the club marked 60 years since the first soccer fixture in Gunnedah, with Gunnedah contesting Raymond Terrace at Under 10 level.

Geoff Morgan and two of his mates purchased the fields back in the 1960s, before a first for the 2025 season was a player-of-the-match award named after Geoff Morgan. His son Phillip and grandson Neil were in attendance for the occasion last Saturday.

Although the 2025 season presented some challenges including floods and the rebuilding of the clubhouse, Gunnedah soccer club president Lachlan May said there were 710 registered players this year; an 11 per cent increase from last year following an 11 per cent increase the previous year.

Last Saturday was heavily overcast but the enthusiasm from the players was obvious, with five divisions featuring keenly contested deciders while non-grand final teams also played.

Jhonelyn Ocenor won the inaugural Geoff Morgan award after producing a player-of-the-match display in the 10-11 grand final, with Johnston Donoghue Property completing an undefeated season.

Jhonelyn backed up in the girls 9-11 age group as she lined up for Ewing Real Estate, and she still wore the Ewing jersey when she accepted the Geoff Morgan award.

Paddy Dowe was named player-of-the-match in the 12-13 grand final, while Oscar Middlebrook achieved the same honour in the 14-16 age group.

Jimmy Grant won the Boyd Family award, and Lachlan Gourley won the Terry Swain award while Alli Gourley was named senior club person of the year.

GRAND FINAL RESULTS:

Girls 9-11: winner C. H. Pest Solutions, r/up Country Mile Signs;

10-11: winner Johnston Donoghue Property, r/up Kingdom Sand & Gravel, player of the grand final Jhonelyn Ocenor;

12-13: winner Courthouse-Hotel Gunnedah, r/up Stacey McAllan Legal, player of the grand final Paddy Dowe;

Girls 12-13: winner Courthouse-Hotel Gunnedah, r/up Hennessy Real Estate;

14-16: winner Many Fabrication & Engineering Pty Ltd, r/up Courthouse-Hotel Gunnedah, player of the grand final Oscar Middlebrook.